Black-and-white thinking
Black-and-White Thinking
A habit of seeing things in extremes, like all good or all bad, success or failure.
Details
Black-and-white thinking means seeing life in only two categories with no middle ground. If something is not perfect, it feels like a total failure. If someone disappoints you, they may suddenly seem completely bad. This way of thinking can make emotions feel much heavier than they need to be. Real life usually has nuance, and learning to notice the 'in-between' can make self-judgment and relationships feel less painful.
💡 Real-Life Example
After making one mistake at work, someone thinks, 'I ruined everything. I'm terrible at this,' instead of seeing it as one setback.
This content is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis.